Woking College

Overview

Woking College is a 16 to 19 academy where leaders provide a “challenging curriculum” that successfully meets student needs. The inspection found that staff motivate learners “extremely well,” resulting in excellent progress and high-quality outcomes across all programmes. The college fosters an “inclusive, respectful and very positive environment” where students feel safe and supported.

Strengths

• Students make “rapid progress” due to “very high quality of teaching” and effective assessment strategies that address misunderstandings.
• The college offers “high-quality ESOL courses” and a bespoke foundation course for refugees, successfully improving life chances.
• Staff demonstrate “exemplary professional behaviours,” creating a culture where students are “courteous and highly respectful.”
• Vulnerable groups, including those with high needs and young carers, receive “bespoke care and support” enabling them to “flourish.”
• Leaders maintain “effective systems” and strong trustee oversight to sustain the “outstanding quality of education.”

Areas to improve

• Leaders recognise that a “small proportion of the level 2 students do not currently benefit” from high-quality work experience, though they do complete employability sessions.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” with staff receiving frequent training and leaders using “sophisticated methods to record and monitor” incidents.